Seattle Japanese Garden

April 11th is Family Saturday! We are pleased to welcome Seattle-based origami group, P.A.P.E.R., back to the Garden. From 11am - 1pm volunteer origami teachers will lead instruction on introductory origami techniques suitable for guests of all ages in the Tateuchi Community Room.

Join us for this fun, all-ages springtime activity! 🌸

Admission is free for all youth 12 and under from 10am – 2pm for Family Saturday.

Family Saturdays are made possible in part by 4culture.

Attention to detail is incredibly important to the maintenance of our Garden. The edging pictured here is carefully cut by hand by our dedicated team of Gardeners. While labor intensive, the result is clean and organic feeling lines, creating a sense of harmony and cohesion throughout the Garden. 🌱

📸 Jose Gonzales - SJG Gardener

In partnership with Youth in Focus (), the Seattle Japanese Garden is pleased to host our 5th annual youth photography workshops in the Garden. Student photographers from grades 8 through 12, are invited to come and learn about the Japanese stroll garden, tea ceremony and how to create inspiring images for our community.

With a professional photography instructor from Youth in Focus, you will expand your knowledge of operating DSLR cameras, photo composition and storytelling through taking photographs in the Garden.

Learn more about this program by following the link above in our bio and sign your student up today!

Garden mainstay Constance Perenyi returns to the Tateuchi Community Room 11am-1pm on March 14th to lead Family Saturday Chigiri-e workshop. This craft workshop is suitable for guests of all ages.

Chigiri-e is a kind of collage technique practiced in Japan and translates “to tear art,” or “painting with paper.” It uses delicate hand-made papers that resemble watercolor painting. Traditionally, the only tools used to tear paper in Chigiri-e are human hands. Constance departs from this tradition by having a pair of fine scissors and a sharp knife on her art table.

March 6th is the first Free First Thursday of the 2026 season at Seattle Japanese Garden. Join us in the Tateuchi Community Room 3:00pm-4:45pm for the opening reception of Port Angeles based Gyotaku artist, Cody Hagen's () inaugural exhibit at the Garden.

Beginning in the 1800s, Gyotaku, translated directly as "fish printing", was initially developed as a way for a fisherman to document their catch by coating one side of the fish with traditional Sumi ink and pressing it onto paper. Over time, this practice evolved into an art form of its own.

About the artist:

In his study of the traditional Japanese printing technique of Gyotaku, Cody has seamlessly blended his appreciation for the wild places, the wild fish, and the wild spirit of the Pacific Northwest. Rooted in centuries-old Japanese art traditions, his bold gyotaku work reflects a deep respect for the art form, the fish themselves, and the meals these fish ultimately provide.